1
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Wu L, Zhang L, Feng S, Chen L, Lin C, Wang G, Zhu Y, Wang P, Cheng G. An evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin ligase drives infection and transmission of flaviviruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317978121. [PMID: 38593069 PMCID: PMC11032495 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317978121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne flaviviruses such as dengue (DENV) and Zika (ZIKV) cause hundreds of millions of infections annually. The single-stranded RNA genome of flaviviruses is translated into a polyprotein, which is cleaved equally into individual functional proteins. While structural proteins are packaged into progeny virions and released, most of the nonstructural proteins remain intracellular and could become cytotoxic if accumulated over time. However, the mechanism by which nonstructural proteins are maintained at the levels optimal for cellular fitness and viral replication remains unknown. Here, we identified that the ubiquitin E3 ligase HRD1 is essential for flaviviruses infections in both mammalian hosts and mosquitoes. HRD1 directly interacts with flavivirus NS4A and ubiquitylates a conserved lysine residue for ER-associated degradation. This mechanism avoids excessive accumulation of NS4A, which otherwise interrupts the expression of processed flavivirus proteins in the ER. Furthermore, a small-molecule inhibitor of HRD1 named LS-102 effectively interrupts DENV2 infection in both mice and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and significantly disturbs DENV transmission from the infected hosts to mosquitoes owing to reduced viremia. Taken together, this study demonstrates that flaviviruses have evolved a sophisticated mechanism to exploit the ubiquitination system to balance the homeostasis of viral proteins for their own advantage and provides a potential therapeutic target to interrupt flavivirus infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjuan Wu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen518000, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Liming Zhang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Shengyong Feng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen518000, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Lu Chen
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Cai Lin
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen518000, China
| | - Gang Wang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Yibin Zhu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Penghua Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT06030
| | - Gong Cheng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen518000, China
- Institute of Pathogenic Organisms, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen518055, China
- Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming650092, China
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2
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Li J, Purser N, Liwocha J, Scott DC, Byers HA, Steigenberger B, Hill S, Tripathi-Giesgen I, Hinkle T, Hansen FM, Prabu JR, Radhakrishnan SK, Kirkpatrick DS, Reichermeier KM, Schulman BA, Kleiger G. Cullin-RING ligases employ geometrically optimized catalytic partners for substrate targeting. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1304-1320.e16. [PMID: 38382526 PMCID: PMC10997478 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) ubiquitylate specific substrates selected from other cellular proteins. Substrate discrimination and ubiquitin transferase activity were thought to be strictly separated. Substrates are recognized by substrate receptors, such as Fbox or BCbox proteins. Meanwhile, CRLs employ assorted ubiquitin-carrying enzymes (UCEs, which are a collection of E2 and ARIH-family E3s) specialized for either initial substrate ubiquitylation (priming) or forging poly-ubiquitin chains. We discovered specific human CRL-UCE pairings governing substrate priming. The results reveal pairing of CUL2-based CRLs and UBE2R-family UCEs in cells, essential for efficient PROTAC-induced neo-substrate degradation. Despite UBE2R2's intrinsic programming to catalyze poly-ubiquitylation, CUL2 employs this UCE for geometrically precise PROTAC-dependent ubiquitylation of a neo-substrate and for rapid priming of substrates recruited to diverse receptors. Cryo-EM structures illuminate how CUL2-based CRLs engage UBE2R2 to activate substrate ubiquitylation. Thus, pairing with a specific UCE overcomes E2 catalytic limitations to drive substrate ubiquitylation and targeted protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Nicholas Purser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Joanna Liwocha
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Daniel C Scott
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Holly A Byers
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Barbara Steigenberger
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Spencer Hill
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Ishita Tripathi-Giesgen
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Trent Hinkle
- Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Fynn M Hansen
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - J Rajan Prabu
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Brenda A Schulman
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany; Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Gary Kleiger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany.
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3
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Righetto GL, Yin Y, Duda DM, Vu V, Szewczyk MM, Zeng H, Li Y, Loppnau P, Mei T, Li YY, Seitova A, Patrick AN, Brazeau JF, Chaudhry C, Barsyte-Lovejoy D, Santhakumar V, Halabelian L. Probing the CRL4 DCAF12 interactions with MAGEA3 and CCT5 di-Glu C-terminal degrons. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae153. [PMID: 38665159 PMCID: PMC11044963 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Damaged DNA-binding protein-1 (DDB1)- and CUL4-associated factor 12 (DCAF12) serves as the substrate recognition component within the Cullin4-RING E3 ligase (CRL4) complex, capable of identifying C-terminal double-glutamic acid degrons to promote the degradation of specific substrates through the ubiquitin proteasome system. Melanoma-associated antigen 3 (MAGEA3) and T-complex protein 1 subunit epsilon (CCT5) proteins have been identified as cellular targets of DCAF12. To further characterize the interactions between DCAF12 and both MAGEA3 and CCT5, we developed a suite of biophysical and proximity-based cellular NanoBRET assays showing that the C-terminal degron peptides of both MAGEA3 and CCT5 form nanomolar affinity interactions with DCAF12 in vitro and in cells. Furthermore, we report here the 3.17 Å cryo-EM structure of DDB1-DCAF12-MAGEA3 complex revealing the key DCAF12 residues responsible for C-terminal degron recognition and binding. Our study provides new insights and tools to enable the discovery of small molecule handles targeting the WD40-repeat domain of DCAF12 for future proteolysis targeting chimera design and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germanna Lima Righetto
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yanting Yin
- Structural and Protein Sciences, Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA 19044, USA
| | - David M Duda
- Structural and Protein Sciences, Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA 19044, USA
| | - Victoria Vu
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Magdalena M Szewczyk
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Hong Zeng
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Yanjun Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Peter Loppnau
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Tony Mei
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Yen-Yen Li
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Alma Seitova
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Aaron N Patrick
- Discovery Technology and Molecular Pharmacology, Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Welsh and McKean Roads, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Brazeau
- Discovery Chemistry, Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, LLC, 3210 Merryfield Row, La Jolla, CA 92121, USA
| | - Charu Chaudhry
- Discovery Technology and Molecular Pharmacology, Therapeutics Discovery, Janssen Research and Development, LLC, Welsh and McKean Roads, Spring House, PA 19477, USA
| | - Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | | | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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4
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Poirson J, Cho H, Dhillon A, Haider S, Imrit AZ, Lam MHY, Alerasool N, Lacoste J, Mizan L, Wong C, Gingras AC, Schramek D, Taipale M. Proteome-scale discovery of protein degradation and stabilization effectors. Nature 2024; 628:878-886. [PMID: 38509365 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07224-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation and stabilization are promising therapeutic modalities because of their potency, versatility and their potential to expand the druggable target space1,2. However, only a few of the hundreds of E3 ligases and deubiquitinases in the human proteome have been harnessed for this purpose, which substantially limits the potential of the approach. Moreover, there may be other protein classes that could be exploited for protein stabilization or degradation3-5, but there are currently no methods that can identify such effector proteins in a scalable and unbiased manner. Here we established a synthetic proteome-scale platform to functionally identify human proteins that can promote the degradation or stabilization of a target protein in a proximity-dependent manner. Our results reveal that the human proteome contains a large cache of effectors of protein stability. The approach further enabled us to comprehensively compare the activities of human E3 ligases and deubiquitinases, identify and characterize non-canonical protein degraders and stabilizers and establish that effectors have vastly different activities against diverse targets. Notably, the top degraders were more potent against multiple therapeutically relevant targets than the currently used E3 ligases cereblon and VHL. Our study provides a functional catalogue of stability effectors for targeted protein degradation and stabilization and highlights the potential of induced proximity screens for the discovery of new proximity-dependent protein modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juline Poirson
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Cho
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akashdeep Dhillon
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shahan Haider
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmad Zoheyr Imrit
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandy Hiu Yi Lam
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nader Alerasool
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Lacoste
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lamisa Mizan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cassandra Wong
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mikko Taipale
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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5
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Fei X, Zhu C, Liu P, Liu S, Ren L, Lu R, Hou J, Gao Y, Wang X, Pan Y. PELI1: key players in the oncogenic characteristics of pancreatic Cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:91. [PMID: 38528516 PMCID: PMC10962118 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03008-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant gastrointestinal tumor, which is characterized by difficulties in early diagnosis, early metastasis, limited therapeutic response and a grim prognosis. Therefore, it is imperative to explore potential therapeutic targets for PC. Currently, although the involvement of the Pellino E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 1 (PELI1) in the human growth of some malignant tumors has been demonstrated, its association with PC remains uncertain. METHODS Bioinformatics, qRT-PCR, Western blot and IHC were used to detect the expression of PELI1 in pancreas or PC tissues and cells at mRNA and protein levels. The effects of PELI1 on the proliferation and metastatic ability of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo were investigated using CCK8, cloning formation, EdU, flow cytometry, IHC, Transwell assay, wound healing, nude mice subcutaneous tumorigenesis and intrasplenic injection to construct a liver metastasis model. The interactions of PELI1 with proteins as well as the main functions and pathways were investigated by protein profiling, Co-IP, GST-pull down, Immunofluorescence techniques, immunohistochemical co-localization and enrichment analysis. The rescue experiment verified the above experimental results. RESULTS The mRNA and protein expression levels of PELI1 in PC tissues were upregulated and were associated with poor prognosis of patients, in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that PELI1 can affect the proliferation and metastatic ability of PC cells. Co-IP, GST-pull down, and other experiments found that PELI1 interacted with Ribosomal Protein S3 (RPS3) through the FHA structural domain and promoted the polyubiquitination of RPS3 in the K48 chain, thereby activates the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway. Moreover, ubiquitinated degradation of RPS3 further reduces Tumor Protein P53 (p53) protein stability and increases p53 degradation by MDM2 Proto-Oncogene (MDM2). CONCLUSION PELI1 is overexpressed in PC, which increased ubiquitination of RPS3 proteins and activates the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway, as well as reduces the protective effect of RPS3 on p53 and promotes the degradation of the p53 protein, which facilitates the progression of PC and leads to a poor prognosis for patients. Therefore, PELI1 is a potential target for the treatment of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Fei
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Changhao Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Songbai Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Baiyun Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Likun Ren
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Rishang Lu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Junyi Hou
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Yongjia Gao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Xing Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Yaozhen Pan
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
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6
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Xie H, Zhang C. Potential of the nanoplatform and PROTAC interface to achieve targeted protein degradation through the Ubiquitin-Proteasome system. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116168. [PMID: 38310686 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays a crucial role in selectively breaking down specific proteins. The ability of the UPS to target proteins effectively and expedite their removal has significantly contributed to the evolution of UPS-based targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies. In particular, proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an immensely promising tool due to their high efficiency, extensive target range, and negligible drug resistance. This breakthrough has overcome the limitations posed by traditionally "non-druggable" proteins. However, their high molecular weight and constrained solubility impede the delivery of PROTACs. Fortunately, the field of nanomedicine has experienced significant growth, enabling the delivery of PROTACs through nanoscale drug-delivery systems, which effectively improves the stability, solubility, drug distribution, tissue-specific accumulation, and stimulus-responsive release of PROTACs. This article reviews the mechanism of action attributed to PROTACs and their potential implications for clinical applications. Moreover, we present strategies involving nanoplatforms for the effective delivery of PROTACs and evaluate recent advances in targeting nanoplatforms to the UPS. Ultimately, an assessment is conducted to determine the feasibility of utilizing PROTACs and nanoplatforms for UPS-based TPD. The primary aim of this review is to provide innovative, reliable solutions to overcome the current challenges obstructing the effective use of PROTACs in the management of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, this is a promising technology for improving the treatment status of major diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanshu Xie
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
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7
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Hsia O, Hinterndorfer M, Cowan AD, Iso K, Ishida T, Sundaramoorthy R, Nakasone MA, Imrichova H, Schätz C, Rukavina A, Husnjak K, Wegner M, Correa-Sáez A, Craigon C, Casement R, Maniaci C, Testa A, Kaulich M, Dikic I, Winter GE, Ciulli A. Targeted protein degradation via intramolecular bivalent glues. Nature 2024; 627:204-211. [PMID: 38383787 PMCID: PMC10917667 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is a pharmacological modality that is based on the induced proximity of an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein to promote target ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. This has been achieved either via proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs)-bifunctional compounds composed of two separate moieties that individually bind the target and E3 ligase, or via molecular glues that monovalently bind either the ligase or the target1-4. Here, using orthogonal genetic screening, biophysical characterization and structural reconstitution, we investigate the mechanism of action of bifunctional degraders of BRD2 and BRD4, termed intramolecular bivalent glues (IBGs), and find that instead of connecting target and ligase in trans as PROTACs do, they simultaneously engage and connect two adjacent domains of the target protein in cis. This conformational change 'glues' BRD4 to the E3 ligases DCAF11 or DCAF16, leveraging intrinsic target-ligase affinities that do not translate to BRD4 degradation in the absence of compound. Structural insights into the ternary BRD4-IBG1-DCAF16 complex guided the rational design of improved degraders of low picomolar potency. We thus introduce a new modality in targeted protein degradation, which works by bridging protein domains in cis to enhance surface complementarity with E3 ligases for productive ubiquitination and degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Hsia
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Matthias Hinterndorfer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angus D Cowan
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Kentaro Iso
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Tsukuba Research Laboratory, Eisai Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tasuku Ishida
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Tsukuba Research Laboratory, Eisai Co., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Mark A Nakasone
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Hana Imrichova
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Schätz
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Rukavina
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Koraljka Husnjak
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Wegner
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Alejandro Correa-Sáez
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Conner Craigon
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ryan Casement
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Chiara Maniaci
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Andrea Testa
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Amphista Therapeutics, Cambridge, UK
| | - Manuel Kaulich
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ivan Dikic
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Georg E Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
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8
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Grifagni D, Lenci E, De Santis A, Orsetti A, Barracchia CG, Tedesco F, Bellini Puglielli R, Lucarelli F, Lauriola A, Assfalg M, Cantini F, Calderone V, Guardavaccaro D, Trabocchi A, D’Onofrio M, Ciofi-Baffoni S. Development of a GC-376 Based Peptidomimetic PROTAC as a Degrader of 3-Chymotrypsin-like Protease of SARS-CoV-2. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:250-257. [PMID: 38352832 PMCID: PMC10860180 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
We have applied a proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to obtain a peptidomimetic molecule able to trigger the degradation of SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLPro). The PROTAC molecule was designed by conjugating a GC-376 based dipeptidyl 3CLPro ligand to a pomalidomide moiety through a piperazine-piperidine linker. NMR and crystallographic data complemented with enzymatic and cellular studies showed that (i) the dipeptidyl moiety of PROTAC binds to the active site of the dimeric state of SARS-CoV-2 3CLPro forming a reversible covalent bond with the sulfur atom of catalytic Cys145, (ii) the linker and the pomalidomide cereblon-ligand of PROTAC protrude from the protein, displaying a high degree of flexibility and no interactions with other regions of the protein, and (iii) PROTAC reduces the protein levels of SARS-CoV-2 3CLPro in cultured cells. This study paves the way for the future applicability of peptidomimetic PROTACs to tackle 3CLPro-dependent viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Grifagni
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Lenci
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessia De Santis
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Orsetti
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Filomena Tedesco
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Raffaele Bellini Puglielli
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Lucarelli
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Angela Lauriola
- Department
of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Michael Assfalg
- Department
of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Cantini
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Vito Calderone
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Guardavaccaro
- Department
of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Trabocchi
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Mariapina D’Onofrio
- Department
of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Ciofi-Baffoni
- Magnetic
Resonance Center CERM, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Consorzio
Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metalloproteine (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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9
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Das A, Cheng H, Wang Y, Kinch LN, Liang G, Hong S, Hobbs HH, Cohen JC. The ubiquitin E3 ligase BFAR promotes degradation of PNPLA3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312291121. [PMID: 38294943 PMCID: PMC10861911 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312291121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
A missense variant in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 [PNPLA3(I148M)] is the most impactful genetic risk factor for fatty liver disease (FLD). We previously showed that PNPLA3 is ubiquitylated and subsequently degraded by proteasomes and autophagosomes and that the PNPLA3(148M) variant interferes with this process. To define the machinery responsible for PNPLA3 turnover, we used small interfering (si)RNAs to inactivate components of the ubiquitin proteasome system. Inactivation of bifunctional apoptosis regulator (BFAR), a membrane-bound E3 ubiquitin ligase, reproducibly increased PNPLA3 levels in two lines of cultured hepatocytes. Conversely, overexpression of BFAR decreased levels of endogenous PNPLA3 in HuH7 cells. BFAR and PNPLA3 co-immunoprecipitated when co-expressed in cells. BFAR promoted ubiquitylation of PNPLA3 in vitro in a reconstitution assay using purified, epitope-tagged recombinant proteins. To confirm that BFAR targets PNPLA3, we inactivated Bfar in mice. Levels of PNPLA3 protein were increased twofold in hepatic lipid droplets of Bfar-/- mice with no associated increase in PNPLA3 mRNA levels. Taken together these data are consistent with a model in which BFAR plays a role in the post-translational degradation of PNPLA3. The identification of BFAR provides a potential target to enhance PNPLA3 turnover and prevent FLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avash Das
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Haili Cheng
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Lisa N. Kinch
- HHMI, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Guosheng Liang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Sen Hong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Helen H. Hobbs
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- HHMI, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
| | - Jonathan C. Cohen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
- Center for Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX75390
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10
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Liwocha J, Li J, Purser N, Rattanasopa C, Maiwald S, Krist DT, Scott DC, Steigenberger B, Prabu JR, Schulman BA, Kleiger G. Mechanism of millisecond Lys48-linked poly-ubiquitin chain formation by cullin-RING ligases. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:378-389. [PMID: 38326650 PMCID: PMC10873206 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01206-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
E3 ubiquitin ligases, in collaboration with E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, modify proteins with poly-ubiquitin chains. Cullin-RING ligase (CRL) E3s use Cdc34/UBE2R-family E2s to build Lys48-linked poly-ubiquitin chains to control an enormous swath of eukaryotic biology. Yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this exceptional linkage specificity and millisecond kinetics of poly-ubiquitylation remain unclear. Here we obtain cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures that provide pertinent insight into how such poly-ubiquitin chains are forged. The CRL RING domain not only activates the E2-bound ubiquitin but also shapes the conformation of a distinctive UBE2R2 loop, positioning both the ubiquitin to be transferred and the substrate-linked acceptor ubiquitin within the active site. The structures also reveal how the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 uniquely activates CRLs during chain formation. NEDD8 releases the RING domain from the CRL, but unlike previous CRL-E2 structures, does not contact UBE2R2. These findings suggest how poly-ubiquitylation may be accomplished by many E2s and E3s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Liwocha
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jerry Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Nicholas Purser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Chutima Rattanasopa
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Samuel Maiwald
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - David T Krist
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Daniel C Scott
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Barbara Steigenberger
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - J Rajan Prabu
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Brenda A Schulman
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Gary Kleiger
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
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11
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Wang K, Diaz S, Li L, Lohman JR, Liu X. CAND1 inhibits Cullin-2-RING ubiquitin ligases for enhanced substrate specificity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:323-335. [PMID: 38177676 PMCID: PMC10923007 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Through targeting essential cellular regulators for ubiquitination and serving as a major platform for discovering proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) drugs, Cullin-2 (CUL2)-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRL2s) comprise an important family of CRLs. The founding members of CRLs, the CUL1-based CRL1s, are known to be activated by CAND1, which exchanges the variable substrate receptors associated with the common CUL1 core and promotes the dynamic assembly of CRL1s. Here we find that CAND1 inhibits CRL2-mediated protein degradation in human cells. This effect arises due to altered binding kinetics, involving CAND1 and CRL2VHL, as we illustrate that CAND1 dramatically increases the dissociation rate of CRL2s but barely accelerates the assembly of stable CRL2s. Using PROTACs that differently recruit neo-substrates to CRL2VHL, we demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of CAND1 helps distinguish target proteins with different affinities for CRL2s, presenting a mechanism for selective protein degradation with proper pacing in the changing cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kankan Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Stephanie Diaz
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lihong Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jeremy R Lohman
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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12
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Kozicka Z, Suchyta DJ, Focht V, Kempf G, Petzold G, Jentzsch M, Zou C, Di Genua C, Donovan KA, Coomar S, Cigler M, Mayor-Ruiz C, Schmid-Burgk JL, Häussinger D, Winter GE, Fischer ES, Słabicki M, Gillingham D, Ebert BL, Thomä NH. Design principles for cyclin K molecular glue degraders. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:93-102. [PMID: 37679459 PMCID: PMC10746543 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glue degraders are an effective therapeutic modality, but their design principles are not well understood. Recently, several unexpectedly diverse compounds were reported to deplete cyclin K by linking CDK12-cyclin K to the DDB1-CUL4-RBX1 E3 ligase. Here, to investigate how chemically dissimilar small molecules trigger cyclin K degradation, we evaluated 91 candidate degraders in structural, biophysical and cellular studies and reveal all compounds acquire glue activity via simultaneous CDK12 binding and engagement of DDB1 interfacial residues, in particular Arg928. While we identify multiple published kinase inhibitors as cryptic degraders, we also show that these glues do not require pronounced inhibitory properties for activity and that the relative degree of CDK12 inhibition versus cyclin K degradation is tuneable. We further demonstrate cyclin K degraders have transcriptional signatures distinct from CDK12 inhibitors, thereby offering unique therapeutic opportunities. The systematic structure-activity relationship analysis presented herein provides a conceptual framework for rational molecular glue design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna Kozicka
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dakota J Suchyta
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vivian Focht
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Kempf
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Petzold
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marius Jentzsch
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Charles Zou
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cristina Di Genua
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- VantAI, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seemon Coomar
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marko Cigler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cristina Mayor-Ruiz
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- IRB Barcelona-Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan L Schmid-Burgk
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Georg E Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mikołaj Słabicki
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Benjamin L Ebert
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicolas H Thomä
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
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13
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Unraveling the diversity of molecular glue degraders. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:17-18. [PMID: 37697005 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01410-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
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14
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Sun J, Zheng H. In Vivo Analysis of ER-Associated Protein Degradation and Ubiquitination in Arabidopsis thaliana. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2772:301-309. [PMID: 38411824 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3710-4_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the cellular site for the biosynthesis of proteins and lipids. The ER is highly dynamic, whose homeostasis is maintained by proper ER shaping, unfolded protein response (UPR), ER-associated degradation (ERAD), and selective autophagy of the ER (ER-phagy). In ERAD and ER-phagy, unfolded/misfolded proteins are degraded in the 26S proteasome and the vacuole, respectively. Both processes are vital for normal plant development and plant responses to environmental stresses. While it is known that ubiquitination of a protein initiates EARD, recent research indicated that ubiquitination of a protein also promotes the turnover of the protein through ER-phagy. In this chapter, we describe in detail two in vivo methods for investigating (1) the degradation efficiency and (2) ubiquitination level of an ER-associated protein in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huanquan Zheng
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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15
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Hoegenauer K, An S, Axford J, Benander C, Bergsdorf C, Botsch J, Chau S, Fernández C, Gleim S, Hassiepen U, Hunziker J, Joly E, Keller A, Lopez Romero S, Maher R, Mangold AS, Mickanin C, Mihalic M, Neuner P, Patterson AW, Perruccio F, Roggo S, Scesa J, Schröder M, Shkoza D, Thai B, Vulpetti A, Renatus M, Reece-Hoyes JS. Discovery of Ligands for TRIM58, a Novel Tissue-Selective E3 Ligase. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1631-1639. [PMID: 38116426 PMCID: PMC10726445 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Redirecting E3 ligases to neo-substrates, leading to their proteasomal disassembly, known as targeted protein degradation (TPD), has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional, occupancy-driven pharmacology. Although the field has expanded tremendously over the past years, the choice of E3 ligases remains limited, with an almost exclusive focus on CRBN and VHL. Here, we report the discovery of novel ligands to the PRY-SPRY domain of TRIM58, a RING ligase that is specifically expressed in erythroid precursor cells. A DSF screen, followed by validation using additional biophysical methods, led to the identification of TRIM58 ligand TRIM-473. A basic SAR around the chemotype was established by utilizing a competitive binding assay employing a short FP peptide probe derived from an endogenous TRIM58 substrate. The X-ray co-crystal structure of TRIM58 in complex with TRIM-473 gave insights into the binding mode and potential exit vectors for bifunctional degrader design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klemens Hoegenauer
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shaojian An
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jake Axford
- Global Discovery
Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical
Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Christina Benander
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Christian Bergsdorf
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Josephine Botsch
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Suzanne Chau
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - César Fernández
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Scott Gleim
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ulrich Hassiepen
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juerg Hunziker
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emilie Joly
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aramis Keller
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Lopez Romero
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert Maher
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Anne-Sophie Mangold
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Craig Mickanin
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Manuel Mihalic
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Neuner
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew W. Patterson
- Global Discovery
Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical
Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Francesca Perruccio
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Silvio Roggo
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julien Scesa
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Schröder
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dojna Shkoza
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Binh Thai
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna Vulpetti
- Global
Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Renatus
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - John S. Reece-Hoyes
- Chemical
Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes
for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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16
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Lin Y, Gong H, Liu J, Hu Z, Gao M, Yu W, Liu J. HECW1 induces NCOA4-regulated ferroptosis in glioma through the ubiquitination and degradation of ZNF350. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:794. [PMID: 38049396 PMCID: PMC10695927 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06322-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumor suppression by inducing NCOA4-mediated ferroptosis has been shown to be feasible in a variety of tumors, including gliomas. However, the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis induced by NCOA4 in glioma has not been studied deeply. HECW1 and ZNF350 are involved in the biological processes of many tumors, but their specific effects and mechanisms on glioma are still unclear. In this study, we found that HECW1 decreased the survival rate of glioma cells and enhanced iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, whereas ZNF350 showed the opposite effect. Mechanistically, HECW1 directly regulated the ubiquitination and degradation of ZNF350, eliminated the transcriptional inhibition of NCOA4 by ZNF350, and ultimately activated NCOA4-mediated iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis. We demonstrate that HECW1 induces ferroptosis and highlight the value of HECW1 and ZNF350 in the prognostic evaluation of patients with glioma. We also elucidate the mechanisms underlying the HECW1/ZNF350/NCOA4 axis and its regulation of ferroptosis. Our findings enrich the understanding of ferroptosis and provide potential treatment options for glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancai Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Hailong Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Jinliang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Zhiwen Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Mingjun Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Road, 110000, Shenyang, China.
- Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, 7 Mulan Road, 117000, Benxi, China.
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17
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Henneberg LT, Singh J, Duda DM, Baek K, Yanishevski D, Murray PJ, Mann M, Sidhu SS, Schulman BA. Activity-based profiling of cullin-RING E3 networks by conformation-specific probes. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1513-1523. [PMID: 37653169 PMCID: PMC10667097 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01392-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL) network comprises over 300 unique complexes that switch from inactive to activated conformations upon site-specific cullin modification by the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8. Assessing cellular repertoires of activated CRL complexes is critical for understanding eukaryotic regulation. However, probes surveying networks controlled by site-specific ubiquitin-like protein modifications are lacking. We developed a synthetic antibody recognizing the active conformation of NEDD8-linked cullins. Implementing the probe to profile cellular networks of activated CUL1-, CUL2-, CUL3- and CUL4-containing E3s revealed the complexes responding to stimuli. Profiling several cell types showed their baseline neddylated CRL repertoires vary, and prime efficiency of targeted protein degradation. Our probe also unveiled differential rewiring of CRL networks across distinct primary cell activation pathways. Thus, conformation-specific probes can permit nonenzymatic activity-based profiling across a system of numerous multiprotein complexes, which in the case of neddylated CRLs reveals widespread regulation and could facilitate the development of degrader drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas T Henneberg
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jaspal Singh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - David M Duda
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Siduma Therapeutics, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kheewoong Baek
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - David Yanishevski
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peter J Murray
- Immunoregulation, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- NNF Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Brenda A Schulman
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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18
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Julio AR, Shikwana F, Truong C, Burton NR, Dominguez E, Turmon AC, Cao J, Backus K. Pervasive aggregation and depletion of host and viral proteins in response to cysteine-reactive electrophilic compounds. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.30.564067. [PMID: 38014036 PMCID: PMC10680658 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.30.564067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis is tightly regulated, with damaged or misfolded proteins quickly eliminated by the proteasome and autophagosome pathways. By co-opting these processes, targeted protein degradation technologies enable pharmacological manipulation of protein abundance. Recently, cysteine-reactive molecules have been added to the degrader toolbox, which offer the benefit of unlocking the therapeutic potential of 'undruggable' protein targets. The proteome-wide impact of these molecules remains to be fully understood and given the general reactivity of many classes of cysteine-reactive electrophiles, on- and off-target effects are likely. Using chemical proteomics, we identified a cysteine-reactive small molecule degrader of the SARS-CoV-2 non- structural protein 14 (nsp14), which effects degradation through direct modification of cysteines in both nsp14 and in host chaperones together with activation of global cell stress response pathways. We find that cysteine-reactive electrophiles increase global protein ubiquitylation, trigger proteasome activation, and result in widespread aggregation and depletion of host proteins, including components of the nuclear pore complex. Formation of stress granules was also found to be a remarkably ubiquitous cellular response to nearly all cysteine-reactive compounds and degraders. Collectively, our study sheds light on complexities of covalent target protein degradation and highlights untapped opportunities in manipulating and characterizing proteostasis processes via deciphering the cysteine-centric regulation of stress response pathways.
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19
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Park HM, Le L, Nguyen TT, Nam KH, Ordureau A, Lee JE, Nguyen TV. The CRL3 gigaxonin ubiquitin ligase-USP15 pathway governs the destruction of neurofilament proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306395120. [PMID: 37903270 PMCID: PMC10636361 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306395120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is caused by mutations in the GAN gene encoding for gigaxonin (GIG), which functions as an adaptor of the CUL3-RBX1-GIG (CRL3GIG) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. The pathological hallmark of GAN is characterized by the accumulation of densely packed neurofilaments (NFs) in the axons. However, there are fundamental knowledge gaps in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the ubiquitin-proteasome system controls the homeostasis of NF proteins. Recently, the deubiquitylating enzyme USP15 was reported to play a crucial role in regulating ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of CRL4CRBN substrate proteins. Here, we report that the CRL3GIG-USP15 pathway governs the destruction of NF proteins NEFL and INA. We identified a specific degron called NEFLL12 degron for CRL3GIG. Notably, mutations in the C-terminal Kelch domain of GIG, represented by L309R, R545C, and C570Y, disrupted the binding of GIG to NEFL and INA, leading to the accumulation of these NF proteins. This accounts for the loss-of-function mutations in GAN patients. In addition to regulating NFs, CRL3GIG also controls actin filaments by directly targeting actin-filament-binding regulatory proteins TPM1, TPM2, TAGLN, and CNN2 for proteasomal degradation. Thus, our findings broadly impact the field by providing fundamental mechanistic insights into regulating extremely long-lived NF proteins NEFL and INA by the CRL3GIG-USP15 pathway and offering previously unexplored therapeutic opportunities to treat GAN patients and other neurodegenerative diseases by explicitly targeting downstream substrates of CRL3GIG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoung-Min Park
- Biometrology Group, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon34113, Korea
| | - Ly Le
- Division of Quantum Simulation and Optimization, SandboxAQ, New York, NY10591
| | - Thao T. Nguyen
- Gehrke Proteomics Center, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO65211
| | - Ki Hong Nam
- Cell Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - Alban Ordureau
- Cell Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY10065
| | - J. Eugene Lee
- Biometrology Group, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon34113, Korea
| | - Thang Van Nguyen
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO65212
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20
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Miao Q, Kadam VD, Mukherjee A, Tan Z, Teng M. Unlocking DCAFs To Catalyze Degrader Development: An Arena for Innovative Approaches. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13369-13383. [PMID: 37738232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Chemically induced proximity-based targeted protein degradation (TPD) has become a prominent paradigm in drug discovery. With the clinical benefit demonstrated by certain small-molecule protein degraders that target the cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs), the field has proactively strategized to tackle anticipated drug resistance by harnessing additional E3 ubiquitin ligases to enrich the arsenal of this therapeutic approach. Here, we endeavor to explore the collaborative efforts involved in unlocking a broad range of CRL4DCAF for degrader drug development. Throughout the discussion, we also highlight how both conventional and innovative approaches in drug discovery can be taken to realize this objective. Moving ahead, we expect a greater allocation of resources in TPD to pursue these high-hanging fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Miao
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Vilas D Kadam
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ayan Mukherjee
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Zhi Tan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, and Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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21
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Peterson AA, Liu DR. Small-molecule discovery through DNA-encoded libraries. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:699-722. [PMID: 37328653 PMCID: PMC10924799 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The development of bioactive small molecules as probes or drug candidates requires discovery platforms that enable access to chemical diversity and can quickly reveal new ligands for a target of interest. Within the past 15 years, DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology has matured into a widely used platform for small-molecule discovery, yielding a wide variety of bioactive ligands for many therapeutically relevant targets. DELs offer many advantages compared with traditional screening methods, including efficiency of screening, easily multiplexed targets and library selections, minimized resources needed to evaluate an entire DEL and large library sizes. This Review provides accounts of recently described small molecules discovered from DELs, including their initial identification, optimization and validation of biological properties including suitability for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Peterson
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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22
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Wurz RP, Rui H, Dellamaggiore K, Ghimire-Rijal S, Choi K, Smither K, Amegadzie A, Chen N, Li X, Banerjee A, Chen Q, Mohl D, Vaish A. Affinity and cooperativity modulate ternary complex formation to drive targeted protein degradation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4177. [PMID: 37443112 PMCID: PMC10344917 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation via "hijacking" of the ubiquitin-proteasome system using proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) has evolved into a novel therapeutic modality. The design of PROTACs is challenging; multiple steps involved in PROTAC-induced degradation make it difficult to establish coherent structure-activity relationships. Herein, we characterize PROTAC-mediated ternary complex formation and degradation by employing von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL) recruiting PROTACs for two different target proteins, SMARCA2 and BRD4. Ternary-complex attributes and degradation activity parameters are evaluated by varying components of the PROTAC's architecture. Ternary complex binding affinity and cooperativity correlates well with degradation potency and initial rates of degradation. Additionally, we develop a ternary-complex structure modeling workflow to calculate the total buried surface area at the interface, which is in agreement with the measured ternary complex binding affinity. Our findings establish a predictive framework to guide the design of potent degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P Wurz
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Huan Rui
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Kaylee Choi
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kate Smither
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | | | - Ning Chen
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Xiaofen Li
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | | | - Qing Chen
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Dane Mohl
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
| | - Amit Vaish
- Amgen Research, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
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23
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Sincere NI, Anand K, Ashique S, Yang J, You C. PROTACs: Emerging Targeted Protein Degradation Approaches for Advanced Druggable Strategies. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28104014. [PMID: 37241755 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28104014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A potential therapeutic strategy to treat conditions brought on by the aberrant production of a disease-causing protein is emerging for targeted protein breakdown using the PROTACs technology. Few medications now in use are tiny, component-based and utilize occupancy-driven pharmacology (MOA), which inhibits protein function for a short period of time to temporarily alter it. By utilizing an event-driven MOA, the proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) technology introduces a revolutionary tactic. Small-molecule-based heterobifunctional PROTACs hijack the ubiquitin-proteasome system to trigger the degradation of the target protein. The main challenge PROTAC's development facing now is to find potent, tissue- and cell-specific PROTAC compounds with favorable drug-likeness and standard safety measures. The ways to increase the efficacy and selectivity of PROTACs are the main focus of this review. In this review, we have highlighted the most important discoveries related to the degradation of proteins by PROTACs, new targeted approaches to boost proteolysis' effectiveness and development, and promising future directions in medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuwayo Ishimwe Sincere
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Krishnan Anand
- Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Sumel Ashique
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Bharat Institute of Technology (BIT), School of Pharmacy, Meerut 250103, India
| | - Jing Yang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chongge You
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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24
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Jin Y, Fan J, Wang R, Wang X, Li N, You Q, Jiang Z. Ligation to Scavenging Strategy Enables On-Demand Termination of Targeted Protein Degradation. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:7218-7229. [PMID: 36971523 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Event-driven bifunctional molecules, typified by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, have been successfully applied in degrading many proteins of interest (POI). Due to the unique catalytic mechanism, PROTACs will induce multiple cycles of degradation until the elimination of the target protein. Here, we propose a versatile "Ligation to scavenging" approach to terminate event-driven degradation for the first time. Ligation to the scavenging system consists of a TCO-modified dendrimer (PAMAM-G5-TCO) and tetrazine-modified PROTACs (Tz-PROTACs). PAMAM-G5-TCO can rapidly scavenge intracellular free PROTACs via an inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction and terminate the degradation of certain proteins in living cells. Thus, this work proposes a flexible chemical knockdown approach to adjust the levels of POI on-demand in living cells, which paves the way for controlled target protein degradation.
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25
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Scott DC, King MT, Baek K, Gee CT, Kalathur R, Li J, Purser N, Nourse A, Chai SC, Vaithiyalingam S, Chen T, Lee RE, Elledge SJ, Kleiger G, Schulman BA. E3 ligase autoinhibition by C-degron mimicry maintains C-degron substrate fidelity. Mol Cell 2023; 83:770-786.e9. [PMID: 36805027 PMCID: PMC10080726 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
E3 ligase recruitment of proteins containing terminal destabilizing motifs (degrons) is emerging as a major form of regulation. How those E3s discriminate bona fide substrates from other proteins with terminal degron-like sequences remains unclear. Here, we report that human KLHDC2, a CRL2 substrate receptor targeting C-terminal Gly-Gly degrons, is regulated through interconversion between two assemblies. In the self-inactivated homotetramer, KLHDC2's C-terminal Gly-Ser motif mimics a degron and engages the substrate-binding domain of another protomer. True substrates capture the monomeric CRL2KLHDC2, driving E3 activation by neddylation and subsequent substrate ubiquitylation. Non-substrates such as NEDD8 bind KLHDC2 with high affinity, but its slow on rate prevents productive association with CRL2KLHDC2. Without substrate, neddylated CRL2KLHDC2 assemblies are deactivated via distinct mechanisms: the monomer by deneddylation and the tetramer by auto-ubiquitylation. Thus, substrate specificity is amplified by KLHDC2 self-assembly acting like a molecular timer, where only bona fide substrates may bind before E3 ligase inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Scott
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Moeko T King
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kheewoong Baek
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Clifford T Gee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ravi Kalathur
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Protein Technologies Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jerry Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Nicholas Purser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Amanda Nourse
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Protein Technologies Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sergio C Chai
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sivaraja Vaithiyalingam
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Protein Technologies Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Richard E Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephen J Elledge
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gary Kleiger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Brenda A Schulman
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
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26
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Nadendla K, Simpson GG, Becher J, Journeaux T, Cabeza-Cabrerizo M, Bernardes GJL. Strategies for Conditional Regulation of Proteins. JACS AU 2023; 3:344-357. [PMID: 36873677 PMCID: PMC9975842 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Design of the next-generation of therapeutics, biosensors, and molecular tools for basic research requires that we bring protein activity under control. Each protein has unique properties, and therefore, it is critical to tailor the current techniques to develop new regulatory methods and regulate new proteins of interest (POIs). This perspective gives an overview of the widely used stimuli and synthetic and natural methods for conditional regulation of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Nadendla
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Grant G. Simpson
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Julie Becher
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Toby Journeaux
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Mar Cabeza-Cabrerizo
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
| | - Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, U.K.
- Instituto
de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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27
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Current Status of Oligonucleotide-Based Protein Degraders. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030765. [PMID: 36986626 PMCID: PMC10055846 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have long been considered undruggable, mainly because they lack ligand-binding sites and are equipped with flat and narrow protein surfaces. Protein-specific oligonucleotides have been harnessed to target these proteins with some satisfactory preclinical results. The emerging proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is no exception, utilizing protein-specific oligonucleotides as warheads to target TFs and RBPs. In addition, proteolysis by proteases is another type of protein degradation. In this review article, we discuss the current status of oligonucleotide-based protein degraders that are dependent either on the ubiquitin–proteasome system or a protease, providing a reference for the future development of degraders.
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28
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Wijaya AJ, Farnaby W, Ciulli A. Crystallization of VHL-based PROTAC-induced ternary complexes. Methods Enzymol 2023; 681:241-263. [PMID: 36764760 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
X-ray crystal structures of PROTAC-induced ternary complexes provide invaluable insights into the critical species underpinning PROTAC mode of action, explain protein degradation selectivity profiles, and can guide rational degrader design. Nevertheless, crystallization of the ternary complexes formed by PROTACs remains an important bottleneck in employing this method. This is mainly due to the potential flexibility and heterogeneity that is inherent to a non-native protein-protein complex mediated by a small molecule, which together can hamper crystallization of the desired species. To overcome this limitation, selecting PROTAC compounds that enable the formation of stable, high-affinity and preferably cooperative ternary complexes in stoichiometric amount is, in our experience, critical to the success of co-crystallization studies. In this chapter, examples of stable PROTAC-mediated ternary complexes are illustrated. Learnings from biophysical & biochemical data are used as a guideline in achieving the highest "crystallizability" of ternary complexes. A case study of VHL-based SMARCA2 PROTAC degrader ternary complex crystallization is described. The procedure includes over-expression and purification of the E3 ligase and target protein, forming (and sometimes isolating) the ternary complex, and crystallizing it. The protocols can be applied for other combinations of E3 ligase, PROTAC and target protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre J Wijaya
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - William Farnaby
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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29
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Ming H, Li B, Jiang J, Qin S, Nice EC, He W, Lang T, Huang C. Protein degradation: expanding the toolbox to restrain cancer drug resistance. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:6. [PMID: 36694209 PMCID: PMC9872387 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01398-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in clinical management, drug resistance remains a major obstacle. Recent research based on protein degradation to restrain drug resistance has attracted wide attention, and several therapeutic strategies such as inhibition of proteasome with bortezomib and proteolysis-targeting chimeric have been developed. Compared with intervention at the transcriptional level, targeting the degradation process seems to be a more rapid and direct strategy. Proteasomal proteolysis and lysosomal proteolysis are the most critical quality control systems responsible for the degradation of proteins or organelles. Although proteasomal and lysosomal inhibitors (e.g., bortezomib and chloroquine) have achieved certain improvements in some clinical application scenarios, their routine application in practice is still a long way off, which is due to the lack of precise targeting capabilities and inevitable side effects. In-depth studies on the regulatory mechanism of critical protein degradation regulators, including E3 ubiquitin ligases, deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs), and chaperones, are expected to provide precise clues for developing targeting strategies and reducing side effects. Here, we discuss the underlying mechanisms of protein degradation in regulating drug efflux, drug metabolism, DNA repair, drug target alteration, downstream bypass signaling, sustaining of stemness, and tumor microenvironment remodeling to delineate the functional roles of protein degradation in drug resistance. We also highlight specific E3 ligases, DUBs, and chaperones, discussing possible strategies modulating protein degradation to target cancer drug resistance. A systematic summary of the molecular basis by which protein degradation regulates tumor drug resistance will help facilitate the development of appropriate clinical strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ming
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Bowen Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwen Jiang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Qin
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Edouard C Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Weifeng He
- Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Tingyuan Lang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, People's Republic of China. .,Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, People's Republic of China.
| | - Canhua Huang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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30
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Henneberg LT, Singh J, Duda DM, Baek K, Yanishevski D, Murray PJ, Mann M, Sidhu SS, Schulman B. Activity-based profiling of cullin-RING ligase networks by conformation-specific probes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.14.524048. [PMID: 36711970 PMCID: PMC9882101 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.14.524048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The cullin-RING E3 ligase (CRL) network comprises over 300 unique complexes that switch from inactive to activated conformations upon site-specific cullin modification by the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8. Assessing cellular repertoires of activated CRL complexes is critical for understanding eukaryotic regulation. However, probes surveying networks controlled by site-specific ubiquitin-like protein modifications are lacking. We report development of a synthetic antibody recognizing the active conformation of a NEDD8-linked cullin. We established a pipeline probing cellular networks of activated CUL1-, CUL2-, CUL3- and CUL4-containing CRLs, revealing the CRL complexes responding to stimuli. Profiling several cell types showed their baseline neddylated CRL repertoires vary, prime efficiency of targeted protein degradation, and are differentially rewired across distinct primary cell activation pathways. Thus, conformation-specific probes can permit nonenzymatic activity-based profiling across a system of numerous multiprotein complexes, which in the case of neddylated CRLs reveals widespread regulation and could facilitate development of degrader drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas T Henneberg
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jaspal Singh
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David M Duda
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Present address: The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kheewoong Baek
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - David Yanishevski
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Peter J Murray
- Immunoregulation, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- NNF Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Anvil Institute, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brenda Schulman
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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31
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Liu G, Chen T, Zhang X, Ma X, Shi H. Small molecule inhibitors targeting the cancers. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e181. [PMID: 36254250 PMCID: PMC9560750 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared with traditional therapies, targeted therapy has merits in selectivity, efficacy, and tolerability. Small molecule inhibitors are one of the primary targeted therapies for cancer. Due to their advantages in a wide range of targets, convenient medication, and the ability to penetrate into the central nervous system, many efforts have been devoted to developing more small molecule inhibitors. To date, 88 small molecule inhibitors have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat cancers. Despite remarkable progress, small molecule inhibitors in cancer treatment still face many obstacles, such as low response rate, short duration of response, toxicity, biomarkers, and resistance. To better promote the development of small molecule inhibitors targeting cancers, we comprehensively reviewed small molecule inhibitors involved in all the approved agents and pivotal drug candidates in clinical trials arranged by the signaling pathways and the classification of small molecule inhibitors. We discussed lessons learned from the development of these agents, the proper strategies to overcome resistance arising from different mechanisms, and combination therapies concerned with small molecule inhibitors. Through our review, we hoped to provide insights and perspectives for the research and development of small molecule inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui‐Hong Liu
- Department of BiotherapyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyCancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of CardiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangLiaoningChina
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of BiotherapyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyCancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xue‐Lei Ma
- Department of BiotherapyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyCancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Hua‐Shan Shi
- Department of BiotherapyState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyCancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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32
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Dixon T, MacPherson D, Mostofian B, Dauzhenka T, Lotz S, McGee D, Shechter S, Shrestha UR, Wiewiora R, McDargh ZA, Pei F, Pal R, Ribeiro JV, Wilkerson T, Sachdeva V, Gao N, Jain S, Sparks S, Li Y, Vinitsky A, Zhang X, Razavi AM, Kolossváry I, Imbriglio J, Evdokimov A, Bergeron L, Zhou W, Adhikari J, Ruprecht B, Dickson A, Xu H, Sherman W, Izaguirre JA. Predicting the structural basis of targeted protein degradation by integrating molecular dynamics simulations with structural mass spectrometry. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5884. [PMID: 36202813 PMCID: PMC9537307 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33575-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a promising approach in drug discovery for degrading proteins implicated in diseases. A key step in this process is the formation of a ternary complex where a heterobifunctional molecule induces proximity of an E3 ligase to a protein of interest (POI), thus facilitating ubiquitin transfer to the POI. In this work, we characterize 3 steps in the TPD process. (1) We simulate the ternary complex formation of SMARCA2 bromodomain and VHL E3 ligase by combining hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry with weighted ensemble molecular dynamics (MD). (2) We characterize the conformational heterogeneity of the ternary complex using Hamiltonian replica exchange simulations and small-angle X-ray scattering. (3) We assess the ubiquitination of the POI in the context of the full Cullin-RING Ligase, confirming experimental ubiquitinomics results. Differences in degradation efficiency can be explained by the proximity of lysine residues on the POI relative to ubiquitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Dixon
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | | | | | | | - Samuel Lotz
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | - Dwight McGee
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Fen Pei
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | - Rajat Pal
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ning Gao
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | - Shourya Jain
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | | | - Yunxing Li
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | | | - Xin Zhang
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alex Dickson
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Huafeng Xu
- Roivant Discovery, New York City, NY, 10036, USA.
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33
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Reiter KH, Zelter A, Janowska MK, Riffle M, Shulman N, MacLean BX, Tamura K, Chambers MC, MacCoss MJ, Davis TN, Guttman M, Brzovic PS, Klevit RE. Cullin-independent recognition of HHARI substrates by a dynamic RBR catalytic domain. Structure 2022; 30:1269-1284.e6. [PMID: 35716664 PMCID: PMC9444911 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RING-between-RING (RBR) E3 ligases mediate ubiquitin transfer through an obligate E3-ubiquitin thioester intermediate prior to substrate ubiquitination. Although RBRs share a conserved catalytic module, substrate recruitment mechanisms remain enigmatic, and the relevant domains have yet to be identified for any member of the class. Here we characterize the interaction between the auto-inhibited RBR, HHARI (AriH1), and its target protein, 4EHP, using a combination of XL-MS, HDX-MS, NMR, and biochemical studies. The results show that (1) a di-aromatic surface on the catalytic HHARI Rcat domain forms a binding platform for substrates and (2) a phosphomimetic mutation on the auto-inhibitory Ariadne domain of HHARI promotes release and reorientation of Rcat for transthiolation and substrate modification. The findings identify a direct binding interaction between a RING-between-RING ligase and its substrate and suggest a general model for RBR substrate recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine H Reiter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alex Zelter
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Maria K Janowska
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael Riffle
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nicholas Shulman
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Brendan X MacLean
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kaipo Tamura
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Matthew C Chambers
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Michael J MacCoss
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Trisha N Davis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Miklos Guttman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Peter S Brzovic
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rachel E Klevit
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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34
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Sasso J, Tenchov R, Wang D, Johnson LS, Wang X, Zhou QA. Molecular Glues: The Adhesive Connecting Targeted Protein Degradation to the Clinic. Biochemistry 2022; 62:601-623. [PMID: 35856839 PMCID: PMC9910052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation is a rapidly exploding drug discovery strategy that uses small molecules to recruit disease-causing proteins for rapid destruction mainly via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It shows great potential for treating diseases such as cancer and infectious, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, especially for those with "undruggable" pathogenic protein targets. With the recent rise of the "molecular glue" type of protein degraders, which tighten and simplify the connection of an E3 ligase with a disease-causing protein for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, new therapies for unmet medical needs are being designed and developed. Here we use data from the CAS Content Collection and the publication landscape of recent research on targeted protein degraders to provide insights into these molecules, with a special focus on molecular glues. We also outline the advantages of the molecular glues and summarize the advances in drug discovery practices for molecular glue degraders. We further provide a thorough review of drug candidates in targeted protein degradation through E3 ligase recruitment. Finally, we highlight the progression of molecular glues in drug discovery pipelines and their targeted diseases. Overall, our paper provides a comprehensive reference to support the future development of molecular glues in medicine.
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35
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The Ash2l SDI Domain Is Required to Maintain the Stability and Binding of DPY30. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091450. [PMID: 35563756 PMCID: PMC9103646 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
ASH2L and DPY30 are important for the assembly and catalytic activity of the complex associated with SET1 (COMPASS), which catalyzes histone methylation and regulates gene expression. However, the regulations among COMPASS components are not fully understood. Here, we leveraged a mouse model and cell lines to observe the outcome of Ash2l depletion and found a significant decrease in DPY30. Analyzing ASH2L ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data excluded transcriptional and translational regulation of ASH2L to DPY30. The decrease in DPY30 was further attributed to the degradation via the ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal pathway. We also verified that three amino acids in the ASH2L Sdc1 DPY30 interaction (SDI) domain are essential for the recognition and binding of DPY30. Lastly, we unexpectedly observed that overexpression of DPY30 in Ash2l-depleted cells rescued the decrease in Ccnd1 and the abnormal cell cycle, which indicates that DPY30 can participate in other complexes to regulate gene expression. Overall, our results, for the first time, reveal that the existence of DPY30 relies on the binding with ASH2L, with degradation of DPY30 via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and they further indicate that the function of DPY30 can be independent of ASH2L.
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